Gate.



S. A. D. HESTON.

GATE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-24, 190B.

Patented June8, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnqaoaa S. A. D. HESTON.

GATE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 24, 1008.

Patented June 8, 1909.

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whim I kfii UNITED s'rArr s PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS HESTON, OF GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.

GATE

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS Hnsrox, a citizen of the United States residing at Greenville, in the county of Bond and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Gate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gates, and more particularly a vertically tilting gate characterized by a folding panel.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gate of this kind which is simple in construction, and also. to provide improved means whereby the gate may be more easily opened or closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate which folds into a small and compact form and which is entirely with-- drawn from the gateway when it is opened. With these objects .in view, the invention consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the gate. Fig. 2 is an elevation, the gate being shown closed in full lines and open in dotted lines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the gate comprises a horizontal topbar 5, a horizontal bottom bar 6, and vertical pickets 7 connecting the same. The pickets are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the bars and they are pivotally connected thereto so that a folding panel is had. The gate also has extension top -bars 5 which are connected to the pivots of the pickets and the top-bar on opposite sides thereof. The hinge-post of the gate is a pair of upright planks 8 between which the extension bars 5 and the inner end of the gate extend, the bars 5 being pivoted thereto as indicated at 9 so that the gate may tilt vertically. Only the bars 5 are pivoted to the hinge post. The latch post 10 has a vertical slot 11 in its inner face to receive the free ends of the bars 5 and 6 whereby the gate is securely held in closed position, no latch or other locking means being required. The bars 5 extend a suitable distance rearwardly from the hinge post and carry a counterweight 13.

Adjacent to the hinge-post, behind the same, is mounted a post 14 provided with a brace 15 on which a pulley 16 is mounted.

On the post 14 is mounted a pair of pulleys 17 Between the bars 5 at their rear ends Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1908.

, Patented June 8, 1909.

Serial No. 459,389.

there is pivoted at 18 an arm 19, and below the arm, extends a cross-pin 21 which limits the downward swing of the arm. To the free end of the arm is hung a pulley 22. A rope 23 fastened at one end to the brace 15, as indicated at 24:, passes over the pulley 22, thence over the pulley 16, and is connected with a rope 25, one end of which passes over one of the pulleys 17 and the other end over the other pulley 17. From these pulleys, the two ends of the rope 25 extend to and pass over pulleys 26 mounted on posts 27 located on opposite sides of the gate a suitable distance therefrom. In the drawings, only one of the posts 27 is shown.

By reason of the connection of the rope 23 with the gate and with the rope 25, a pull on either end of the last mentioned rope opens the gate, or closes the same when it is open. By providing the arm 19, the bars 5 are lengthened and the leverage is thus increased and less power is therefore required to open the gate. The arm is pivotally connected to the bars 5 so that it may swing upwardly and not strike the ground when the gate is swung open as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

When the gate is opened it folds into a small and compact form between the planks 8 without projecting from either side thereof. The bars 5, 5 and 6 assume an erect position and the pockets 7 on the respective sides thereof fold against each other. By arranging the pickets alternately on opposite sides of the bars 5 and 6 they may be spaced apart sufliciently to enable the gate to fold as stated.

By the counterweight 13 the gate is balanced so that it stays in the position to which it is swung, and very little effort is therefore required to start its opening and closing movement. The pulley 16 is located directly beneath the pulley 22 so that the portion of the rope 23 which is between said pulleys extends at substantially a right angle to the bar 5 by reason of which said rope initially exerts a straight pull on the same. The momentum of the gate carries it past the dead center, and its movement in the direction to open is stopped by the counterweight striking the hinge-post. This movement of the gate brings the pulley 22 in front of the pulley 16, and the arm 19, upon swinging upwardly as already described, so positions the pulley 22 with respect to the pulley 16, that the portion of the rope extending therebetween again extends at substantially a right angle to the bars 5, and the initial straight pull on said bar is again had when the gate is swung to closed position. As before, the gate is carried by its movement past the dead center. The closing movement of the gate is limited by the engagement of the bar (3 with the bottom of the slot 11. t

The gate herein described is simple in structure, has no complicated parts to get out of order, can be easily operated, and by folding it between the planks 8 the gate way is left entirely unobstructed. As the posts 27 to which the rope leads are located on opposite sides of the gate, the same may be opened and closed from either side and said posts 27 support the rope at such an elevation that it may be reached by a person without dismounting if riding.

Between the uprights 8 at the lower ends thereof is a guide for the bottom bar 6 of the gate. This guide comprises a board 28 securely fastened about midway bet-ween the uprights and facing the rear end of the bar 6. To the face of this board are secured two blocks 29 which are spaced apart and have their opposite faces shaped to form a slot which is flared at its upper end, in

which slot the rear end of the bar (3 works as the gate is raised and lowered. On the latch-post 10 are guide pieces 30 for directing the front edge of the gate to the slot .11.

\Vhat is claimed is l. The combination with a vertically tilting gate having one of its horizontal bars projecting rearwardly from the hinge-post, of an arm pivoted to said bar, and means for operating the gate comprising a support, a pulley thereon below the arm, and a hauling line passing over the pulley and connected to the arm.

2. The combination with a tilting gate having a pair of spaced horizontal bars pro- 'ectin rearwardl Y beyond its hin 'e iost. .l s a of an arm pivotally mounted between said bars, a pin passing through said bars below the arm to limit the downward swing thereof, and means for operating the gate connected to the arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

S'lEPlll li A. DOUGLAS llES'lON.

Vitnesses Osoiu: OAKLEY, RUBY ll'fOCASLIN. 

